Digest

SNOOKER

Yan stuns world No 2 Robertson at Masters

Rising Chinese star Yan Bingtao came from behind to edge Australia's Neil Robertson in a thrilling encounter and reach the quarterfinals of the Masters in Milton Keynes, England, on Tuesday.

Making his debut in the elite tournament, which features the world's top 16 players, the 20-year-old Yan trailed early against the world No 2, who led 2-0 and 3-1.

Yan leveled the match at 3-3 before Robertson claimed the next two frames to regain his advantage.

The Chinese hopeful kept calm to fight back again and finally overtook his opponent to win 6-5 and set up a last-eight duel with Scotland's Stephen Maguire.

"I will do the best I can in the next round, but I've already gone beyond my expectations. I will try my best to relax and enjoy the match," Yan, who now leads Robertson 2-1 in their head-to-head record, told the World Snooker Tour's website.

BASKETBALL

Nets, NBA reviewing Kyrie's party video

The Brooklyn Nets and the NBA are looking into Kyrie Irving's actions after a video showed the point guard at an indoor family gathering while not wearing a mask.

Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks said Tuesday that the team is reviewing the circumstances with both Irving and the NBA to determine his compliance with the league's health and safety protocols.

Marks added in a statement that a date for Irving's return to the team has yet to be finalized. Irving missed his fourth straight game for what the Nets have called personal reasons on Tuesday night against Denver.

Asked if he was confident the 28-year-old Irving would be back with the Nets this season, coach Steve Nash responded: "Sure. Like I said, right now I've got to focus on coaching this team and getting the best out of them."

TENNIS

Aussie Open serves up strict virus measures

Australian authorities have announced stringent protocols to cope with the risk of COVID-19 during the upcoming Australian Open, coinciding with at least two infections being reported at a qualifying event in Doha.

Tennis Australia confirmed to Xinhua on Tuesday that two players, named in media reports as American Denis Kudla and Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo, had tested positive and been withdrawn from the tournament.

The news further highlighted the significant risk posed by international sporting events in the age of COVID-19 and the threat to Australia's relatively successful virus suppression efforts.

Australia reported six locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, while the city of Melbourne, which will host the Australia Open, recorded zero.

Authorities in Melbourne said that when the 1,200 tennis players, officials and support people begin arriving for the event from Thursday, they will be subject to the tightest quarantine arrangements in the world for a tennis tournament.

ICE HOCKEY

Stars account for bulk of NHL's positive tests

The National Hockey League says 17 of the 27 players that tested positive for the coronavirus are on the Dallas Stars roster.

The league announced COVID-19 testing numbers from Dec 30-Jan 11 on Tuesday. That included 12,000 tests administered to more than 1,200 players.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on Monday said the testing numbers were so far very good.

The NHL says most of the 17 Stars players are asymptomatic. Dallas shut down its training camp Friday and resumed practice Tuesday with over a dozen players unavailable.

The regular season starts this week. The Stars were originally scheduled to play their first game at the Florida Panthers in Miami on Thursday, but they will now not begin until at least Jan 19.

Xinhua - Agencies